PhD Studentship: Quantifying Interpretation Uncertainty in Geophysical and Geological Models for Geoenergy Applications

Award Summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). An additional allowance will be provided to contribute towards consumables, equipment, and travel related to the project.

Overview

Accurate prediction of fluid behaviour in subsurface geoenergy applications, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), geothermal energy, and hydrogen storage, depends on robust characterisation of structural geometries and discontinuities, and stratigraphic heterogeneity. 

Uncertainty is inherent in all subsurface geological models, yet approaches to its quantification and management vary widely across applications and sectors. A persistent challenge in is the efficient evaluation of how alternative geological and geophysical interpretations influence model outcomes and, ultimately, development decisions. 

This project will address this challenge through testing and development methodologies to quantify the range of plausible subsurface interpretations and the associated uncertainty derived from multi-modal datasets. Specifically: 

1. Characterise variability in reservoir structure and architecture derived from geophysical and geological data.
2. Evaluate the impact of alternative interpretations and assess the implications for model reliability and decision-making.
3. Assess the influence of scale-dependent interpretations of discontinuities and heterogeneities on the accuracy and robustness of static models.
4. Develop a systematic workflow for constructing and comparing alternative structural and stratigraphic framework models. 

The project aims to improve both the conceptual representation of the subsurface (i.e. descriptive models of features and processes) and its numerical realisation within computational models, providing a more reliable foundation for subsequent dynamic simulations. 

The project is funded by Eni S.p.A through the UK Energy Futures (https://ukenergyfutures.org) research partnership, bringing together geoscientists, engineers, and social scientists to advance geoenergy research across the N8 Research Partnership.

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

01 October 2026

Award Duration

3.5 years

Application Closing Date

05 June 2026

Sponsor

Industry - ENI

Supervisors

Dr Mark Ireland (Newcastle University)

Dr Cees van der Land (Newcastle University)

Dr Mads Huuse (University of Manchester)

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (e.g. Earth Sciences, Geoscience, Geology, Geophysics or equivalent).

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal 

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  

search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8314

leave the ‘Research Area’ field blank

select ‘Geoscience’ as the programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section: 

• a ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form 
• the studentship code SNES306 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field 
• when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.
• upload an up to date CV and a completed competency assessment form as ‘Supporting Documentation’.

Contact Details

Mark.Ireland@newcastle.ac.uk

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